Newcastle United will be competing with the likes of Arsenal and Anzhi Makhachkala for prolific striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is expected to leave St Etienne this summer.

The Gabon international is in high demand after another successful season in France where he has managed to score 19 league goals, and help the club climb to fourth place with just one game remaining this season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in action for Gabon during the 2012 London Olympics. [Reuters]

Even if St Etienne manage to qualify for the Champions League, it seems as though there will be a number of clubs hoping to convince Aubameyang to leave at the end of the season.

Anzhi striker Samuel Eto'o has reportedly advised the Russian club to offer the forward a lucrative deal and Aubameyang admitted this would be of interest, telling L'Equipe: "Such a proposition obviously makes me think about it."

However, Anzhi will not be the only club pursuing the striker after reports suggesting that Premier League duo Arsenal and Newcastle are also keen to sign Aubameyang during the summer.

Arsenal were heavily linked with the 23 year old earlier this season and there is a feeling that manager Arsene Wenger will look to sign another striker in order to build a side capable of challenging for the title, rather than just a top four finish.

Aubameyang has certainly demonstrated his goal scoring ability over the last two seasons with St Etienne and would be offered the chance to play Champions League football if he joined Arsenal this summer.

Yet Newcastle will also be confident of signing the striker, despite a season to forget, as they have consistently recruited from Ligue 1.

Yohan Cabaye was convinced to join the club after winning the title with Lille, while France internationals Hatem Ben Arfa, Matthieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa have also made the move to St. James Park.

The Journal believe that Alan Pardew has prioritised signing Aubameyang after deciding that Liverpool striker Andy Carroll would prove too costly. West Ham are now close to agreeing a fee of £15m for the striker, while Newcastle will hope they can land the St Etienne forward for around £12.8m.

Aubameyang has so far refused to comment on where his future will lie but his brother Willy, who is also at St Etienne, believes the decision will solely lie with his brother.

"I am looking forward to next season with or without Pierre," said Willy Aubameyang. "He is charge of his own future. It is his decision to what we wants to do."

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